Michigan State point guard Keith Appling played only 19 minutes and scored three points on 1-of-4 shooting when the Spartans dropped a 75-70 decision to Indiana in Bloomington on Jan. 27.AP Photo

EAST LANSING — Just when you thought nothing could top the environment at Breslin Center last Tuesday with two Top 10 teams playing, the Associated Press and USA Today coaches poll revealed a battle of top fives will take place this Tuesday.

Indiana is No. 1 in the AP poll and USA Today poll while Michigan State is No. 4 in the AP and No. 5 in the USA Today poll released on Monday after being No. 8 in both polls last week.

The Hoosiers (23-3, 11-2) tip off against the Spartans (22-4, 11-2) at 7 p.m. on Tuesday on ESPN.

Indiana isn't the same sort of rival for Michigan State as Michigan, but the game certainly doesn't lack story lines or motivational aspects.

The Big Ten Conference lead is on the line, Spartans' legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson will be on hand to broadcast the game with Dick Vitale for ESPN, and Indiana coach Tom Crean is a former Izzo assistant.

If the multiple angles don't suggest enough drama, the numerous ratings systems also suggest the sold-out game will live up to its hype.

Indiana is No. 1 in the Massey Ratings while Michigan State is No. 2; the Hoosiers with the No. 10 strength of schedule and the Spartans' schedule strength at No. 3.

In the Sagarin Ratings, Indiana is No. 1 and Michigan State is No. 7. Sagarin puts the Hoosiers' strength of schedule at No. 63 and the Spartans' at No. 9.

The Ken Pomeroy Ratings show Indiana No. 2 and Michigan State No. 12 — MSU with a No. 6-ranked schedule and IU's at No. 24.

Finally, the NCAA RPI ratings have the Hoosiers at No. 12 and the Spartans at No. 5

According to STATS LLC, it's the only the fourth time since 1996 that two Big Ten teams have been ranked in the top five (Associated Press poll) when meeting outside NCAA tournament.

Here are all the games since 1996-97 where both teams were in the top 4. Conference games are noted as well as conference tournament games. The games are listed with the most recently played ones first: